Metal car.



Patented Mar. 4, I902.

A. B. BELLOWS.

METAL GAB.

(Applicntinn filed Mar. 28, 1900.,

6 Sheets--Sheet I.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR 91% wam I m: ucmms Pzrcns co. Pl-(ofoumm wAsmNcYom u c.

Patented Mar. 4, I902. A. B. BELLOWS.

METAL CAB.

. (Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.) (No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 5,

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w imam PETERS on, PHOTflLiTHO, wnsmNG-rrw n r No. 694,715. Patentd Mai.4, I902.

- A. B. BELLDWS.

METAL CAB.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.) N 0 ll 0 d e l 6 Sheets-Sheet 6,

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NIT-ED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR B. BELLOWS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. I

METAL CAR.

SPECIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,71 5, dated March4, 1902.

- Application filed March 28, 1900. Serial No. 10,468. (No model.)

panying drawings, forming part of this speci fication, in which Figure 1shows in side elevation the left hand half of a steel car constructed inaccordance with my invention, the car being designed specially for usein carrying ore and coal, though the novel features of my invention maybe applied to cars of all kinds. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of theright-hand half of the car. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the left-hand halfof the car.' Fig. 4 is an end elevation. Fig. 5 is a vertical section onthe line V V of Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are crosssectionsshowing modifiedconstructions of the center sill and its ridge-plate. Fig. 8 is a per-'spective viewof the door latch. Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of one endof the car, showing the body-bolster and sill. Fig. 10 is averticalsection on the line X X of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a modified construction of the floorof the car, in which thefloor of the car is inclined downwardly from thetop of the center sill toward the sides of thecar. I

In the drawings, 2 represents the center sill of the car, which is abox-girder structure, preferably composed of flanged beams and is withinthe bodyof the car. The sides of the cars are preferably constituted ofplate-girders having an intermediate web portion 3, made up of metalplates, and marginal flanged sections 4 4 at the top and bottomv edges,the web 3 being provided with vertical stitfenin g flanged pieces 5 5,riveted thereto.

The car has inwardly-inclined floors which extend from lines 6 6 abovethe lower edges of the side plate-girders 3 downwardly to the lowerportions of the center sill. These inclined floors are partlyconstituted by fixed portions 7 7 and doors 8 8, which are insubstantially the same inclined plane. These 1 doors are made oflongitudinal flanged pieces floor portions 7 and the outer vertical sideplates 3 of the car are interposed diaphragms 10, constituted by platesor flanged sections The center sill 2 projects upwardly from the loweredges of the doors and is preferably provided at thetop with an angularridge 11. The sill is'of novel construction in that its sides are madeof flanged beams having webs and marginal flanges, and the top ofthesill is composed of trough plates, which may be bent or rolled andwhich (when made'of two parts) are riveted together at the apex and alsoriv- .eted at the lower edges to the beams ofthe sill. At the middle ofthe car-body thereis a needlebeam, of general triangular outline,constituted of a plate-girder comprising a'horizontal flanged bar 12,which may bemade up of two angles riveted together, inclined flangedpieces 13, extending at the same inclination as the doors and floorportions 7, and anintermediate web 14, which is riveted to the pieces 12and 13 ,and has vertical flangedat. taching-pieces by which it issecured to the.

sides of the center sill. I also provide gussetplates 16, extendingvertically in the plane of the needle-beam.

There are preferably two doors on each side of the center sill, eachdoorextending from the needle-beam to the foot of the end incline door,journaled in hangers 19, whichdepend from the sides of the car. Theseshafts are connected by levers 20 and links 21 to the door,- so that byturning theshaft the door may be raised from the open position (shown atthe right of Fig. 5) to the closed position, (shown at theleft of thatfigure,) inwhich position the levers 20 extend upwardly within the spaceafforded between'the inclined floor 7 and the side plate of the car. Thedoors are u pheld from below bylatches 22, mounted to slide on pins 23and operated by levers 24 on shafts 25, arranged within the sill.latches 22 project through plates 26 on the sill, having rearwardlyprojectin g arms 27, to

which the pins 23 are fixed. The slots 28 in The the plates 26 are madeof the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, having a narrow middle portion B,through which the lip on the latch may be retracted, and havingshoulders C, which support the body of the latch, the shape of the latchbeing shown in perspective in Fig. 8. The shafts 25 extend within thecenter sill till they reach beneath the inclined bottom portion 17 ofthe car, and theyare there connected, respectively, by levers 29,cross-links 30, and levers 31 to shafts 32, formed with squared ends,situated at a convenient point at the side of the car, so that byturning the shaft 32 through a very small arc the link 30 is moved inthe direction of the arrow, thereby rotating the shaft 25 and retractingthe latches, thus permitting both doors on one side of the car to dropand to discharge the load. When the door is raised by turning the shaft18, a lip 33 at the edge of the door engages the lips at the ends of itslatches, pushes the latches back momentarily, and the latches thenspring forward by action of a counterweight 34 and lockthe door shut. Itwill be noticed that in this construction there are separate devices forraising and for upholding the door, with independent mechanism for each.The consequence is that either if the door'raising devices should bedamaged or entirely destroyed the doors will still be upheld by theirlatches and will not drop, whereas in cases where the same means areused for raising and upholding the doors injury to them will frequentlycause the dropping of the doors and the discharge of the load of the carupon the tracks, resulting in labor and expense in replacing or removingit.

The hinges of the doors are above the level of the lower edges of theside of the car. This is a desirable construction in that-it enables meto construct the door-opening of greater horizontalwidth than otherwisewithout causiug the door to interfere with the rail when it is swungopen.

' The base of the center sill 2 is below the level of the lower edge ofthe sides of the car. This of importance, because it lowers the centerof gravity and admits of a greater cubical capacity without exceedingthe lines permissible in car construction.

The body-bolster 35 is a structure having a web with flanged edges, andabout midway of its length there is a .slot or hole cut in the lowerportion of the web below or mainly below its neutral axis. The centersill 2 is extended through said hole or slot and is secured to the webby attaching angles or plates 36. A diaphragm or diaphragms 37,preferably two in number, arranged to form an intermediate space for theking-bolt, are fixed inside the sill on each side of the plane of theweb of the body-bolster. The body-bolster has cover-plates 38 38 at thetop and bottom, and instead of making it with a single web, as shown, itmay be formed of two parallel webs, so as to provide a box construction.The consequence of interfitting the body-bolster and sill in the mannerjust described is that a very strong construction is secured without inany way weakening the body-bolster, for as the latter is applied belowthe neutral axis, or mainly so, the stresses of compression put upon thebolster at the cut-away portion are entirely taken up by the sill, thediaphragms, and bottom cover-plate 38.

In Fig. 11 I show a modified construction in which thetransversely-inclined floors 7, with the doors, are inclined downwardlyfrom the top portion of the sill to the sides of the car, and in thiscase the diaphragms 10 are interposed between the floor portions and thevertical sides of the center sill.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show modified constructions of the center sill andits angular ridge.

Within the scope of my invention as defined in the claims the parts maybe modified in form and construction, and certain parts may be usedwithout the others or in other combinations, since What I claim is- 1. Acar having a longitudinal center sill extending throughout its bodyportion, and floor portions inclined transversely between the centersill and thecar sides, and having doors forming parts thereof, saidparts formin g the bottom framework of the car, the car being open andunobstructed below the doors to allow dumping at points between itssides, substantially as described.

2. A car having a longitudinal center sill, and a transversely-inclinedfloor, constituted of adoor and a fixed portion, and diaphragms 10'interposed between a fixed portion of the inclined floor and an uprightpart of the car structure; substantially as described.

3. A car having a transversely-inclined floor, comprising a door with afixed portion, said fixed portion being adjacent to the side of the carand extending above the base thereof, and cross ribs or diaphragmsinterposed between the side of the car and the floor; substantially asdescribed.

4. A car having fixed stationary sides, a longitudinal center sillextending throughout the car-body, and a bottom or floor havingoppositely-inclined portions extending from above the bases of the sidesdownwardly to the center sills upon which they are carried, the carsides terminating above the level of the lowerpart of the centersill;substantially as described.

5. A car having fixed stationary sides, and a longitudinal center sill,extending throughout the car-body, plate-girder side portions, and floorportions inclined in opposite directions from a level above the base ofthe side of the car down to the base of the center sill and supportedonsaid center sill; substantially as described.

6. A steel car having fixed side portions and a longitudinal center sillextending throughout the car-body, continuous plate-girder sides, andfioor portions inclined in opposite directions from the stationary sidesto the base of the center sill, and supported on said center sill;substantially as described.

7. A car-sill consisting of a box structure having flanged side beamsand a coveringridge of angle form,said ridge being composed of twoflanged parts having their flanges secured together; substantially asdescribed.

8. A car having a center sill With transversely-inclined floors and aneedle-beam composed of a web-and marginal flanges fixed to the floorand to the sill, and of general triangular form; substantially asdescribed.

9. A car having a center sill with transversely-inclined floors and aneedle-beam composed of a web and marginal flanges fixed to the floorand to the sill, and of general triangular-form, and a diaphragm withinthe sill at or about the plane of the needle-beam; substantially asdescribed.

10. A car having a center sill and sides, the body of saidsill-extending below the level of the sides and floors incliningtransversely upwardly from the center sill at each side; substantiallyas described.

11. A car having continuous metal plate sides, a longitudinal centersill extending throughout the'body of the car, and floors incliningtransversely and upwardly from the center sill to the sides, the body ofsaid center sill extending below the level of the a car sides;substantially as described.

12. A car having alongitudinal center sill extending throughout itsbody, and floors inclining'transversely and upwardly from the base ofsaid sill to the car sides, at leasta part of the center sill beingbelowthe'lower parts of the car sides; substantially as described.

13. In combination with door mechanism and a car having inclined floorportions at the ends, a cross-link extending under the inclined floorportion to the side of the car, and a connection leading therefrom tothe door mechanism; substantially as described.

14:. The combination with a car-door and center sill, of a latcharranged within the center'sill and adapted to project therefrom toengage the door; substantially as described.

15; The combination of a car-door and the sill, an operating-latcharranged within the sill, and connections extending transverselytherefrom to the side of the car; substantially as described.

16. The combination with a car-door, of raising mechanism comprising ashaft extending lengthwise of the car, a lever attached to the shaft,and a link connecting it with the.

door, said lever extending upwardly when the door is open, the side ofsaid car'extend- 'ing downwardly exterior to the'body thereof below theupper end of said lever when the same is raised, affording thereby anopen below the neutral axis of the latter; substantially as described.

18. A car having a body-bolster located over the truck-bolster andformed with a continuous web plate or plates having ahole outthereinmainly below the neutral axis, and a longitudinal sill passedtherethrough; substantially'as described. 1

19. A car havinga body-bolster located over the truck-bolster and formedwith a continuous web plate or plates,havinga hole cuttherein mainlybelow the neutral axis, and a longitudinal sill passed therethrough,said sill being formed of metal pieces with a diaphragm interposed at ornear the plane of the bolster to resist compression; substantially asdescribed.

20. A car having a body-bolster located over the truck-bolster andformed with a continuous web plate or plates having a hole cut thereinmainly below the neutral axis, and a longitudinal sill passedtherethrough, said bolster having a cover-plate at its lower side;substantially as described.

21. A car'having'a -center sill, diagonal as the level of the sidebase-line of the car;

substantially as described.

22. A car having'a body-bolster located over the truck-bolster andprovided with a top flange, a bottom flange, and a continuous web plateor plates arranged to transmit bending strains from the top flange tothe bottom flange, said web plate or plates having a hole cut therein,and a longitudinal sill extending through the hole; substantially asdescribed.

23.. A steel car, having a longitudinal center sillextending throughoutthe car-body, and plate-girder sides extending below the level of thetop of said center sill; substantially as described.

24. A steel car, having a longitudinal center sill'extendingthroughoutthe car-body, and continuous plate-girder sides having verticalstrengthening members secured thereto, said sides extending below thetop of the center sill; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

